Growing Brain: UC Davis Study Finds Increase in Mass and Surface Area Over Time

New research published in the journal JAMA Neurology has revealed that people’s brains are getting larger over time. The study, conducted by UC Davis Health Medical Center, found that individuals born in the 1970s and later have 6.6% more mass and 15% more surface area compared to those born in the 1930s.

Charles DeCarli, a professor of neurology at UC Davis Health and the study’s author, explained that genetics play a significant role in determining brain size. However, external factors such as health, society, culture, and education also have some influence. The researchers analyzed data from the Framingham Heart Study, which spanned 75 years, examining MRI images of over 3,200 individuals born between 1925 and 1968.

The study showed a gradual and steady increase in brain size over time. Brain size and surface area increased significantly with additional mass found in the gray matter, white matter, and hippocampus. These brain regions are crucial for memory, learning, and communication between different brain areas.

The researchers view these results as promising evidence that age-related memory decline may be improving in the general population. They suggest that larger brain structures could potentially lead to better information storage and reduce the impacts of aging on cognitive function over time. This research highlights the importance of factors like genetics